Neck,
shoulders, back, lower limbs
RSI affects the
muscles, tendons, nerves and other soft tissues of the body. The term
is commonly used to refer to pain and discomfort in the hands and arms
amongst keyboard users but any part of the body that is subjected to
overuse, compounded by poor posture, twisting, cold, vibration or
stress, is vulnerable to developing an RSI-type condition.
Tension in the shoulders, stiffness in the neck and upper back pain
with associated headaches can develop from a strain of the muscles
which attach into the spine and a shortening of the muscles attaching
into the anterior chest wall. Maintaining a poor posture for many years
can lead to an exaggerated back curve which can, in turn, lead to disc
inflammation in the back and even compress the rib cage.
Tendon or muscle inflammation around the shoulder joint can also result
in thoracic outlet syndrome (compression of the nerves and/or blood
vessel in up to four specific regions of the neck and shoulder).
There are also recorded cases of similar muscle and tendon injuries to
the lower limbs and housemaid's knee, common in workers who kneel too
much, is a recognised industrial injury.
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